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Indonesian brand to showcase contemporary rattan furniture at Maison&Objet
New coloring technique creates a contemporary look for Indonesian rattan designs.
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New coloring technique creates a contemporary look for Indonesian rattan designs. (JP/Handout)
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lvin Tjitrowirjo is set to present products designed under his brand alvinT at the upcoming Maison&Objet, a lifestyle trade fair to be held at the Paris-Nord Villepinte convention center, Paris, on Sept. 7-11.
Among the items to be showcased by alvinT are the Lumping rocking horse, Malya chair, Loop stool and bench. All of these items are made of a new kind of rattan called karuun, developed by a German manufacturing company.
“Karuun is actually a new coloring technique for rattan. So usually rattan is sprayed with a coloring agent from the outside. But this [karuun] is sort of injected with color, so when you cut it you can see that the inside is also full of solid color,” Alvin told The Jakarta Post shortly before he left for Paris on Tuesday.
Alvin went on to say that the new coloring technology had been patented and that the company made sure the rattan was sustainably sourced from Aceh and Kalimantan.
“Basically the name karuun refers to the material,” said Alvin, “and I design [products] using the material.”
The products that Alvin designed are in pastel colors, aiming for a contemporary look.
Read also: Bali hammock manufacturer to present premium line for Maison&Objet
This is Alvin’s third time showcasing his designs at Maison&Objet, where he shares booth N20 at Hall 5A with Dutch textile designer Nikkie Wester. Earlier in January, Alvin also showcased his designs at Maison&Objet, in Yamakawa’s [rattan] booth.
Alvin previously collaborated with Indonesian fashion brand Sejauh Mata Memandang to exhibit in Maison&Objet in 2017.
When The Post asked how Alvin made it to the prestigious trade fair, he said that he had to go through a challenging selection process.
“The selection process, as this was the second time for me, was easier. The first time we had to propose how our booth was going to be designed, explain our products, state the price range and they followed up with an inspection,” said Alvin.
Does the designer intend to increase product sales through the exhibition?
“We are focusing more on introducing our brand to this market. We would like to be known. This is a long process. Coming from Indonesia is really not an added value, therefore we want to build our image first. We hope to meet distributors, representatives, agents who will later sell our products in the [Maison&Objet] market,” said Alvin.
